Solar shutter arrangement

ABSTRACT

A shutter arrangement adaptable to a solar energy system for either a residential or commerical building characterized by a skylight presented in a roof portion of the building, and a shutter supported on the roof portion and selectively slidable behind the skylight from and to a solar energy blocking relationship with respect to the interior of the building in response to temperature variations. The shutter surface facing the skylight presents reflective physical properties, while the surface facing the interior of the bulding presents an ornamental appearance. The invention affords two-fold primary purposes, to-wit, high efficiency for a solar energy passive building and a decorative effect for the building&#39;s occupant. Importance lies in the fact that the temperature responsive device or thermocouple serving shutter control is in direct engagement with the inner surface of the glass panel forming part of the skylight.

The present application is a continuation-in-part application of Ser.No. 744,775, filed June 14, 1985, with the same title and inventor, nowabandoned.

As is known, the employment of solar energy in connection with heatingand/or cooling functions, as for residential structures, for example, isincreasingly popular, representing savings not only of conventionallyused energy resources but, additionally, in actual expense incurred bythe individual consumer. In this regard, while many alternative solarenergy systems are presently available, the present invention isdirected to a particular feature having general utility and/oradaptability to virtually any of such.

More specifically, the invention at hand presents a solar shutterarrangement represented by one or more solid and framed shutters,preferably one-piece panels, the outer surface(s) of which presentreflective physical properties, each being selectively movable from oneposition to another depending upon a use mode requirement, as, forexample, a heating or a cooling function. The instant solar shutterarrangement is typically installed in a skylight built into the roof ofthe residential structure. The individual shutters defining thearrangement are operable by a motor driven reel, the latter receivingcables which support the shutters and afford ready movement thereof toand from any desired use location responsive to temperature variationsor the user's needs.

The solar shutter arrangement of the invention affords high efficiencyfor any given solar type heating-cooling system and, at the same time,affords a decorative appearance pleasing to the owner/user, i.e.presents a mural or other type of decorative effect on the inner surfaceof each shutter. Thus, at least a two-fold end result is achieved,to-wit, and as stated, efficiency in function and a decorativeinstallation.

In any event, a better understanding of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, showing a solarshutter arrangement in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view, partly fragmentary, of a typical solarshutter installation;

FIG. 3 is a view in section, taken generally at line 3--3 on FIG. 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the frame and panelassembly defining a shutter in one invention form;

FIG. 4 is another view in section, in this instance taken at line 4--4on FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, further detailinga typical solar shutter installation;

FIG. 5 is another front plan view, of an alternative invention form,generally comparing to FIG. 2, but with the shutters at a partiallylowered position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a preferred shutter form, detailing theframe arrangement, and taken at line 6--6 on FIG. 5 and looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, detailing the locationof the thermocouple in the space between the glass panel of the skylightand a shutter;

FIG. 8 is another view in cross-section, taken at line 8--8 on FIG. 5and looking in the direction of the arrows, but, in this instance,detailing a preferred shutter installation assembly; and,

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the control circuitry for a typicalinstallation.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modificationin the illustrated devices, and such further applications of theprinciples of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated aswould normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates.

Referring now to the figures, the solar shutter arrangement of theinvention is shown in a typical installation located on roof 10 of abuilding, where each shutter 12 is selectively concealed within a space10a behind or beneath the roof 10 at one location and is movable to aposition behind a window panel 35 presenting a skylight 30 (see FIGS. 1,2 and 5).

As evident in FIG. 3, each shutter 12 may be defined by assembledinsulative panels 12a, 12b and 12c, typically made from a styrofoammaterial, where panel 12a includes a heat reflective outwardly facinglayer 12a' and panel 12c includes a decorative surface 12c', as a muralsection, directed towards the inside of the building. In a preferredform, however, and as evident in FIG. 6, the shutter 12 is presented asa one-piece solid panel, also made from a styrofoam material.

In either instance, i.e. the one-piece panel (FIG. 6) or the assembledpanels 12a, 12b and 12c (FIG. 3), a frame 12d, typically made from ahigh impact plastic resin, importantly surrounds such, serving ease andprotection during movement and adding to shutter 12 life. An adhesive orlike substance (not shown) achieves a positive and sealed assemblybetween the shutter 12 and the frame 12d.

Thus, each shutter 12 presents a framed appearance when viewed fromeither the front or rear thereof. Moreover, in any given installation,the number of solar shutters 12 employed may be varied, where two arerepresentatively presented in FIG. 2 and three representativelypresented in FIG. 5.

As further evident in FIG. 2, angling caps 14, beneath the roof 10 andconcealed by ceiling 19, define the aforesaid space 10a within whicheach of the shutters 12 may be selectively positioned, i.e. move intoand from. In this regard, bearings 20, secured to the caps 14, rotatablymount a shaft 21, the latter being driven bi-directionally from anelectric power source, as motor 25, through, for example, a belt orchain 25a.

The shaft 21 mounts grooved reels 21a which serve to wind, or unwind,cables 22 which support each shutter 12. In other words, with therotation of shaft 21, and the winding or unwinding of cables 22, eachshutter 12 moves upwardly or downwardly (see FIGS. 1 and 5). All cables22, i.e. for adjacent shutters 12, move simultaneously, and, therefore,provide total selective sun/heat blocking and/or unblocking action, tobe described herebelow.

As to the arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 4, skylight 30, presented in roof10, is defined by I-beam 31 supported laminated wooden members 34,together with cooperative laterally extending wooden members 34'. The(tempered) glass panel 35 is supported on decking 37 mounted on thewooden members 34--34', where a frame member 39 surrounds and overliesthe glass panel 35 (again see FIG. 2).

With reference now to FIG. 7, and importantly, a thermocouple ortemperature responsive device 40, typically black in color for optimumsolar radiation absorption, i.e. because of more sensitivity tosunlight, is secured to a support 34" depending from wooden member 34'forming part of skylight 30. The thermocouple 40 is in direct engagementwith the inner surface of the glass panel 35 (0.5R) and, typically,proximate the top of the glass panel 35 at a location avoiding any shadethat a structural member might produce. The location of the thermocouple40 against the glass panel 35 achieves optimum sensitivity in theabsence of sunlight, resulting in faster response of the motor 25 whichcontrols the linear movement of the shutters 12.

FIG. 8, together with FIG. 5, shows a preferred alternative shutter 12installation which includes a cap 50 overlying the glass panels 35,being positioned by an assembly defined by a threaded member 51, such asa screw, and a shim 52. Silicon or like material 54 is typicallydisposed between the cap 50 and the glass panels 35 for sealingpurposes. The installation further includes, towards the inside of thebuilding, a track 60, where a layer of cloth 61, for example, is appliedthereto for smoother shutter 12 sliding action and, as well, for noisecontrol (also see FIG. 7).

In other words, the arrangement is such that the glass panel 35 permitssun to pass into the interior of the building, depending upon theposition of the shutter(s) 12 which selectively travel(s) to and fromspace 10a. The movement, or opening and closing, of each of the shutters12 is responsive to the temperature of the thermocouple 40, the latterserving to control operation of the power source 25 through aconventional shutter controller 40a.

In this connection, and as a matter of example, during operation in awinter mode, sunlight entering skylight 30 strikes thermocouple 40,increasing the heat on the latter to an upper limit, as, for example,110° F., and sending a signal to power source 25 through theconventional shutter controller 40a. At such time, shaft 21 rotates theproper amount of turns to wind the cables 22 on the grooved reels 21a,pulling shutters 12 into space 10a. Without the shutters 12 obstructingpassage, sunlight fully enters into the building, where, typically, suchis aimed at passive stone and/or masonry.

In the instance where the sun sets or is concealed behind a cloud for anextended period of time, thermocouple 40 cools to a lower limit, as, forexample, 90° F., again sending a signal to the power source 25 to rotatethe shaft 21 oppositely and move the shutters 12 into a closed positionwith respect to skylight 30. Thus, much of the gained heat is retained.

In the summer mode of operation, generally a reversed operation (to theabove) is achieved, i.e. thermocouple 40 heats to a high limit, whereall shutters 12 will be closed, reflecting any direct solar gain (byreason of the reflective layer 12a'). On the other hand, when the sunsets or is concealed behind a cloud for an extended time period,thermocouple 40 cools and the shutters 12 open, whereby the building canlose unwanted heat through skylight 30 by reason of the "night skyradiation" principle.

As to the circuitry for the solar shutter arrangement presented by theinvention, and with reference to FIG. 9, such, typically, includes theaforesaid shutter controller 40a, which, as stated, responds tooperational demands for physically making the shutters 12 open or closeas the temperature increases or decreases. As shown, thermocouple 40feeds into a control unit 65 which is normally closed, but which opensupon an increase in temperature. A double-throw double-pole mode controlswitch 66 serves to change the operational sequence from a winter to asummer mode, or conversely. Additionally, a spring-loaded single-poledouble-throw switch 69 is an optional part of the circuitry, serving, ifmoved downwardly, to close the shutters 12 and, if moved upwardly, toopen the shutters 12. As the figure indicates, switch 69 is normally ata neutral physical position.

Thus, it should be evident that the instant solar shutter arrangementserves to increase the efficiency of solar passive buildings where, bymeans of automatically operated shutters, sunlight and associated heatenters the building whenever available, and conversely. The shutters 12,in framed panel form, serve insulative purposes to selectively preventheat loss or gain.

The invention serves to decrease the cost of operating a solar energycontrolled building by affording more efficiency. Additionally, theshutters serve a decorative purpose in that the inwardly facing surfacesthereof may include a mural or any artistic effect. Moreover, whiledescribed herein in connection with a residential building, theinvention has application to any sized structure, even those used forcommercial purposes.

In any event, the solar shutter arrangement described above issusceptible to various changes within the spirit of the invention,including, for example, proportioning; the manner of raising andlowering each shutter; the particular assembly of a shutter; the shapeand/or configuration of the skylight; and, the like. Thus, the precedingshould be considered as illustrative and not as limiting the scope ofthe following claims:

I claim:
 1. In a structure having a roof with a skylight including aglass panel which transmits solar energy, a shutter arrangementsupported on said roof comprising an insulative flat one-piece solidshutter in the form of a panel selectively and linearly slidable ontracks which conceal the side edges thereof from a position blockingtransmittal of solar energy through said glass panel of said skylightinto an area within said structure to a position permitting transmittalof solar energy through said glass panel of said skylight into said areawithin said structure, where said skylight presents a space between saidglass panel and said selectively and linearly slidable insulative flatone-piece solid shutter, where the latter serves as the selective innerwall of said space contiguous with said area within said structure andsaid glass panel serves as the fixed outer wall of said space, wheretemperature responsive means is disposed within said space and in directengagement with the inner surface of said glass panel, where saidtemperature responsive means is a black thermocouple operating a motorin a driving relationship with said insulative flat one-piece solidshutter, where said insulative flat one-piece solid shutter is supportedby a cable secured to a rotatable shaft controlled by said motor, wherebi-directional movement of said rotatable shaft achieves raising andlowering of said insulative flat one-piece solid shutter to each of saidsolar energy blocking and transmittal positions, and where saidinsulative flat one-piece solid shutter includes a reflective surfacefacing said skylight and a decorative surface facing said area withinsaid structure.
 2. The shutter arrangement of claim 1 where temperatureresponsive electrical switching means control the position of saidinsulative flat one-piece solid shutter.
 3. The shutter arrangement ofclaim 1 where said insulative flat one-piece solid shutter is framed bya high impact plastic material.
 4. The shutter arrangement of claim 1wherein a series of insulative flat one-piece solid shutters in aside-by-side relationship are disposed behind said skylight towards saidarea within said structure and are simultaneously slidable bothselectively and linearly.